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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To hate the ikea shopping "experience?"

104 replies

toptramp · 28/12/2011 23:09

Went to Ikea today to get the trofast storage system as have decided it's probably the best storage system for me.

Havn't been for years and I can see why; horrid aircraft hanger -like store and hellish carpark. Piles of tacky shite piled high. I mean- how mant tea light holders does one need? Hardly any staff to help. I know it's self serve but I would like to be attended to. Staff were helpful when asked and when found. Then the awful self serve bit downstairs where one has to grab piles of flat pack shite oneself.

I hate most of the furniture. I like some of it but most of it is a bit tacky. I'm more of a Laura Ashley girl myself (althought tbh it's far too expensive and I like a bit of modern mixed with my shabby shite chic)

I like what I bought; trofast very useful storage, wine glasses and ultra cheap salad bowl but god I don't ever want to go back unless I'm desperate. I just wish they'd do more home delivery. It's so cheap as customer service is minimal.

Give me my local trading post (lovely second hand style curiosity shop) anyway.

OP posts:

Methe · 29/12/2011 11:37

Idratherbemuckingout · 29/12/2011 11:42

I went to Ikea once and that was enough for me. ONce in there I just couldn't find my way out again. Rather frustratingly I could actually see the exit from where I was on the one way system, but no way could I find my way to it. It totally put me off ever trying it again.

Original poster

toptramp · 29/12/2011 11:57

I like being independant and stuff but I do like to be catered to when shopping especially in such a huge place. I rather like the idea of the sweedish shopping in the same way that they might gather wood for the log cabin; a rather hunter/gatherer feel I guess! I'm just lazy after Christmas.

I do like my really old-fashioned, retro furniture but I like to mix in some clean lines. I just want furniture that is going to last through the generations. It's an investment. I cannot see a lot of ikea stuff lasting but I did love the table ware and soft furnishings. Crap, rough towels though.

OP posts:

porcamiseria · 29/12/2011 11:58

and.......your point is?

Original poster

toptramp · 29/12/2011 12:10

no point at all. Just saying!

OP posts:

theincredibequeenofwands · 29/12/2011 12:23

Ooooo, I live IKEA furniture, think all of our stuff except our beds came from there. Have a least 10 Billies, they've lasted years and years.

Used to really enjy assembling it but think the novelty may have worn off - begged my dad to assemble the last few things I've assembled.

valiumredhead · 29/12/2011 12:28

IKEA furniture DOES last and is well made - obviously it's not Chippendale but for what it is it is great.

The cafe is fab too.

The secret is to go often - you get to know the layout and it doesn't all seem so alien.

cardibach · 29/12/2011 12:34

I live hours from IKEA, but enjoy a visit. I'm not much of a shopper, but ther is so much variety there. COnfused as to how anyone gets lost - there are arrows on the floor directing you, for heaven's sake!
It does what it sets out to do brilliantly. If that is not what you want, go somewhere else. SOrted.

PastGrace · 29/12/2011 13:02

My IKEA towels always stay lovely and fluffy...

DP tried to "help" me put together a desk and bedside table in our student flat when we had just started going out. Possibly the biggest relationship test ever. Especially when he put the sodding back panel of the bedside table on the front, thus rendering it useless. I did the desk myself .

I love IKEA, but it does give my mum splitting headaches.

HeidiKat · 29/12/2011 14:56

Quick hijack question for anyone whose child has the ikea easel, does magnetic stuff stick to the white side of it? DD got magnetic letters in her stocking but can't really be trusted to play with them on the fridge without taking stuff out and I want to get her a whiteboard to stick them on but the ikea easel looks fab for the price and would do drawing as well.

redpanda13 · 29/12/2011 15:00

HeidiKat - no just tried with DD's magnetic letters.

HeidiKat · 29/12/2011 15:49

Thanks redpanda, looks like I will have to try the stationery shop for a magnetic board.

AmazingBouncingJesus · 29/12/2011 16:03

Fancy a trip to IKEA now...

Who was it on here that said a trip round IKEA was like childbirth? I can never remember the name of the poster!

ViviPrudolf · 29/12/2011 16:05

Heidi you could paint it with magnetic blackboard paint?

HeidiKat · 29/12/2011 16:08

Never heard of that Vivi, where do you get it and is it cheap?

KenDoddsDadsDog · 29/12/2011 16:10

I want a hotdog with Swedish mustard....

ViviPrudolf · 29/12/2011 16:11

Its about £13 in homebase, so quite pricey but I'm sure if you bought it online and did a god search you'd find it cheaper. B&Q also sell a primer that you can paint under your regular wall paint, so its magnetic but you can't see it. Someone I know has this and its great for displaying kids pics etc without blu-tac or tape or whatever.

Insomnia11 · 29/12/2011 16:12

Hating IKEA is so 2008.

HeidiKat · 29/12/2011 16:15

Will look into that then as I really like that easel but probably won't be getting it for a while yet as DD has so much new stuff I'm going to put a few bits away for a while to be brought out when she is bored one day so time to look for the best deal on the paint.

GeriManda · 29/12/2011 16:35

Ha ha at this thread turning into an IKEA love-in. And at bog brushes being named after Danich towns. Agree at how yawnsome it is to be saying "Ooo, I went to Ikea once and I got lost" It's all been done before.

I must have been going to IKEA for 20 years now

chipmunksex · 29/12/2011 16:37

I love ikea, I go all by myself when the dc are at school about every 6 months as it's an hour away and I always get lost getting there.

I have a cooked breakfast then saunter around at my leisure, candles aren't my thing, but I always end up with some bits of kitchenalia and something for the dc. Then to those thin ginger biscuits, to take home and a yummy hotdog to snaffle in the car.

I think part of the pleasure is knowing I am unlikely to see anyone I know. In the town where I live I always see someone I know, it gets on my wick!

SmileItsSeasonal · 31/12/2011 15:16

Ok, on the way to ikea. Should I lie about DDs age to get her into play area? She is a tall agile articulate 2 yrs and 4 months... Prone to tantrums.

DitaVonCheese · 31/12/2011 21:13

YABU. Tbh I am anyone's for a free cup of tea but Ikea also give me extremely cheap home furnishings, extremely cheap meatballs (which DD considers a treat, so can be used as a bargaining tool) and (now DD has attained magical age of 3) free soft play while I have 45 (45!) toddler-free minutes. Bliss.

I also LOVE their magazine. Vivi - where are you in it?! I wish it came out more often, I would actually pay for it.

Also thought it was law for every home to have a Not in it? (My dad once bought one on ebay for quite a lot more than they cost new ).

Didn't know that about the names ... a friend and I once took a very depressed Swede round and over-excitedly made her translate all the names, which were generally along the lines of "That means, like, rug ... Yeah, that just means cup ... Knife ... Colander ..." etc.

I realised last time I was in our local store that I'd now been shopping there for 18 years, over half my lifetime I am very proud of knowing all the shortcuts though

543Ty1HappyNewYear · 31/12/2011 23:21

Which stores offer the free cup of tea, Bletchley doesn't I am sure

DitaVonCheese · 31/12/2011 23:26

They all do afaik if you sign up for a (free) Family card so they can scarily collect information about you - free tea or coffee Mon to Fri :)

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